GIRARD, MI (WTVB) – Careless smoking is listed as the probable cause of a fire that resulted in minor damage but briefly quite a bit of smoke in a small blaze this morning at a home in Branch County’s Girard Township. The alarm came in for the Coldwater Fire Department shortly before 8 a.m. with a word of a possible explosion and fire at the Connie Belden residence at 235 Treasure Lane.
Reports indicate a resident of the home was smoking a cigarette when an ash tray along with a butane lighter fell into a waste basket, sparking a flash and a few flames. The blaze was quickly extinguished. There were no injuries.


